They waited.
Minutes passed, stretching longer than they should. Laughter faded into yawns and shifting feet.
Audrey covered her mouth and yawned loudly. "Okay… this is getting boring."
Lucas stood up, stretching his arms. "Let's just continue the game. That call must be long."
Mark laughed, getting to his feet too. "Yeah, a very long call."
Emma's heart thudded. "Wait," she said quickly. "Shouldn't someone go check on him? What if—"
Audrey turned sharply toward her. "Emma, stop. Not again. Enough with these boring stories. Let's just play."
Emma opened her mouth to argue—
Knock. Knock.
The sound cut through the room like a blade.
Every head snapped toward the door.
Silence fell instantly.
The knock came again, firm, deliberate.
Lucas frowned. "That's probably Clinton."
Emma didn't move.
Her father walked toward the door, smiling. "Finally."
He opened it.
A woman stood there, snow clinging to her coat, a bottle of wine in one hand and a bright smile on her face.
"Surprise."
Emma's blood ran cold.
Elizabeth.
Her mother stepped inside, shaking the snow from her hair. "Merry Christmas, everybody!"
Her father's face lit up. He walked forward and pulled Elizabeth into a hug. "You made it."
Everyone clapped politely, voices overlapping with greetings and laughter.
Emma didn't clap.
She didn't move.
Audrey turned to her, whispering, "That's your mom?"
Emma's jaw tightened.
Elizabeth raised the bottle of wine. "I brought something special."
Emma turned away and sat down heavily on the couch.
Elizabeth noticed.
She walked toward her slowly, smile still fixed on her face. "Emma."
Emma stood up immediately, turning to leave.
Elizabeth reached out and grabbed her hand.
"Don't," she said softly.
Emma yanked her hand back. "Will you let me off!"
The room froze.
Elizabeth's smile faltered. "Emma, don't do this—"
"I said let me go!" Emma snapped, her voice shaking.
Her father spun around sharply. "Emma!"
She turned toward him, eyes blazing. "You didn't tell me she was coming today,you only told me she would come"
"That's enough," he snapped. "You will not speak to your mother like that in front of everyone."
Elizabeth stepped closer, lowering her voice. "I came to fix things."
Emma laughed bitterly. "Fix what? You disappear for years and show up on Christmas like nothing happened?"
"Emma!" her father shouted. "Stop it!"
The room was dead silent. No one spoke. No one moved.
Elizabeth looked hurt, but her eyes flicked briefly around the room, taking everything in—the guests, the tree, the house.
"This is still my home," she said quietly.
Emma felt her throat tighten. "Not to me."you are divorced!
Her father stepped between them. "Go sit down," he ordered Emma. "Now."
Emma clenched her fists, then slowly turned and sat back on the couch.
Elizabeth straightened, forcing a smile again. "I didn't mean to cause trouble."
Her father exhaled. "It's fine. We were just about to continue a game."
Lucas laughed awkwardly. "Yeah… hide and seek."
Elizabeth tilted her head. "Sounds fun."
Emma stared at the floor.
Her mind wasn't on the game.
It wasn't on her mother.
It wasn't even on the argument.
One thought kept pounding in her head.
The knock.
Everyone assumed it was Elizabeth.
But no one had gone to check the back door.
And Clinton still hadn't returned.